Squib.



Patented Dec; 3|, l90l.

J. T. JAMES.

SOUIB,

(Applicaticn filed Sept. 8, 1901.)

(No Model.)

' vantages, to wit: first, to assure the miner vor the squib fail to ignite the charge; fifth,

JOHN T. JAMES, OF PLYMOUTH, PENNSYLVANIA.

souls;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 690,293, dated December 1901- Application filed September 3, 1901. Serial No. 74,198. are model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. JAMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Squibs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which ithppertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to miners squibs for firing blasts, and has for its object to provide a device of this class having the following adample time after lighting the squib to reach a place of safety before the charge explodes second, to provide an ever ready match to ig-- nite the squib either in mines in which there are or are not large quantities of explosive gas; third, the squib and match are prepared in a single piece and treated at the same time with the mixture which causes the squib to smolder instead of blazing; fourth, to prevent the powder in the squib from escaping and wasting, whereby accidents might occur while'the squib is readily and easily charged, the powderis prevented from getting into the, match,- and, sixth, the squib can be used in any situation in which it is required to make a blast. t 1

With this object in view the invention consists in the improved combined squib and match, the construction and arrangement of the parts of which will be hereinafter fully described. and afterward specifically claimed.

In the accompanying: drawings, in which I have illustrated myimproved combined squib and match, Figure 1 is a view of a'combined squib and match in process of preparation from a previously shaped and treated blank. Fig.2 is a-similar view of the squib completed and the match ready to be torn orcut ofi. Fig. 3 is a view of a-squibblank without the match, and Fig. .4 is a view of a blank for a combined squib andmatch. q

As is well known to those skilled in the art, a blast is prepared by boring a hole, filling it partially with blastingpowder, placing a pointed metal bar or needle of reduced diameter into the hole until its point enters the blasting-powder, tamping earth around the needle, and finally withdrawing the needle, leaving a tubular opening through the tamped earth to the powder in which to place the squib or fuse.

To fire the blast, the squib, partially filled with gunpowder, is placed in this tubular opening and lighted from the outside.

In mines where there is much gas the fuse or squib must be so treated as to render it incapable of blazing when lighted, for the reason that a blaze would explode the gas in the mine. For this purpose squibs as heretofore constructed have been treated throughout with a solution of saltpet-er for the purpose named. In use, these squibs have been found objectionable in that when the squib had been fired and the blasting-powder failed to explode, or, as it is technically stated, the blast hung fire, and the tube become choked, requiring the miner to open it with the needle,

the parts of the squib sometimes smoldered fora long time in the tube and, when punched inward by the needle, caused premature err-- plosions and maimed or killed the miner. To avoid this, I treat both ends of the paper blank, as A, of which the squib is formed, the main body of the blank, between the broken lines B 0, being left untreated. By this means all of the main body of thetpaperwill be quickly consumed when the squib is lighted, leaving no smoldering coals to cause the accidents mentioned.

By reference to Fig. 3 theform of a plain squib-blank will be seen which may be lighted by any known suitable means, such squib being prepared in any usual manner after being treated at the ends only, as stated, the small 'todgueD at the inner endbeing used as hereinafter explained.

In Fig. 4 I show the blank from which I form my improved combined squib and match, and having treated the ends with the saltpeter solution, as before described, I take a squib-needle, which is a piece of any suitable size and shape of metal wire, and roll the blank on the needle to the formshown at a in Fig. 2, the tongue E having been set transversely of blank A, then pour the powder into the squib at its open end, and then secure the tongue D at the bottom of the squib with a touch of mucilage, whereby said open end is closed. The squib is then ready for scribed the form and arrangement oi tearing off the match H on the line G, after which the squib may be placed in the tube and lighted with the match H, prepared and shaped in any suitable manner. The match H, being treated with the non-inflammable substance, is used to transfer the fire from the lantern to the squib,- esthis paper may be safely used where a flame might cause an explosion, especially in the mining oi coal Where gas is present in such quantities as to oily dctllie verions parts of the squib and match, 2 desire it. to be understood that changes and vurietions might be made Within reasonable limits without: departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what] I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A blank for miners squib OOllSlSl-llig of e strin of paper treated at both ends with a solution to prevent it from blazing when ignited and the main body portion loft untreated, substantially as described.

2. A blank for a. miners combined squib and match consisting of a strip of paper formed with a. lateral projection at. one end to form e match when torn off, the blank be ing treated at its ends only with a solution to girevent it blazing when ignited and the match being similarly treated, substantially as described.

3. A blank for a ininere squib having its outer endtreated with a non-blazing solution, and provided at its opposite end'r-rith a small tongue similarly treated, substantially de" scribed.

4-. A miucrs squib consisting of a roll or twist; of paper treated at its ends with a nonblnzing solution, and sealed at; its inner end with o. turned-in tongue similarly treated, substantially as described.

5. A blank for a. miners squib consisting of a strip of paper treated at; both ends with usolution for preventing it; from blazing when ignited, designed, to be rolled to form said squib, and a lateral projection near one end of said strip similarly treated, left in a flat, extended condition when said strip is rolled, and designed to be torn from said strip for roviding a. match substen ticlly as described.

6. A mincrc squib consisting of a roll or twist; of paper, a charge of powder intermediate the ends thereof, means upon said paper at; each end thereof, outside said powdercborge, for preventing blazing when ignited, a tronsvcrsely-urrunged tongue near one end of said twist rolled in the some for prevent.- ing escape of said powder, and lb turned-in tongue secured in position at; the oymosite end for sealing the said roll or twist, substantially as described.

7. A mincrs squib consisting, of. :1. roll or twist. of paper, ll lllilltflil on one end thereof treated to prevent blnzing when ignited, at

powder-charge within said roll or twist beyond said match, and olctcrul rejection extending at one side of said run oh and simi lurly treated for producing an auxiliary match, designed to be detached for igniting the said end match, substantially as described.

8. A ininors squib comprising a body portion of. suitable material, on igniting-match proper extending from the end thereof, and a laterally-extending, auxiliary match ourried by said end match and designed to be torn therefrom for use in igniting said end match, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ufiizc my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A. C. CAMPBELL, FRANK MCCORMICK. 

